Tuesday, 15 November 2011

Lib Dems Resting on Laurels

“Every other council could raise its game if it wanted to, it’s a matter of political will,” said Hedge End Town Councillor and Borough Leader Keith House in response to a Daily Echoreport putting Eastleigh top of the league table of Hampshire councils' recycling rates.

Eastleigh's 43% of waste recycled is indeed impressive compared to neighbouring councils, some of which only achieve percentages in the low twenties, and Eastleigh is undoubtedly a leader in innovation locally with its weekly collection of food waste for recycling. However, the percentage is one point down from last year, when Eastleigh achieved 44%

Look a bit further afield, moreover, and The Guardianreports that there are councils which manage to recycle 64-65% of their waste. If Bournemouth can recycle 64%, why can't Eastleigh? Are the Lib Dems resting on their laurels instead of putting them in the garden waste bag?

Cllr House's fellow Lib Dem Town Councillor, and cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, Louise Bloom recently said: "We know that around 70% of waste can be recycled so we are aiming to further improve the amount we recycle. I would encourage all our residents to recycle their bottles and jars."

A report by the now defunct Environment Scrutiny Panel earlier this year claimed that Eastleigh was already collecting 85% of the available glass. So residents are already doing a pretty good job of recycling bottles and jars. Perhaps Eastleigh too needs is a bit of the political will which is apparently missing in our neighbouring councils to increase recycling rates.